DODGE CITY, Kan. – Two decades ago, an Etbauer was the winner of the Dodge City Roundup Rodeo saddle bronc riding more often than not.
Brothers Robert, Billy and Dan Etbauer have been recognized as one of the greatest set of siblings to ever compete in ProRodeo. Combined they have dozens of Wrangler National Finals Rodeo qualifications; Robert is a two-time world champion, and Billy owns five gold buckles.
Now the next generation is taking over the scene. On Sunday night during Roundup’s championship round, Shade Etbauer rode Frontier Rodeo’s Medicine Woman for 86.5 points to win his first Dodge City buckle.
“It’s just awesome to be here and make the short round,” said Etbauer, 23, of Goodwell, Okla.. “To be able to win that means a lot to me It’s a pretty close rodeo, almost like my hometown rodeo in a way.”
And he rode one of the most decorated broncs in ProRodeo today. Medicine Woman has been named Saddle Bronc of the Year four times, including the last three in a row. The Roundup Arena record was set on the big bay mare in 2015, when four-time NFR qualifier Isaac Diaz scored 93 points on her back.
“That was one of the coolest feelings to get on a horse of that caliber,” Etbauer said. “That the first time I’ve ever got on her, and to be able to get on horses like that is just awesome.”
Sunday’s field of finalists featured three world champions: reigning titlist Zeke Thurston, 2015 winner Jacobs Crawley and two-time champ Cody Wright. Etbauer – who placed fourth in the first round with an 93.5-point ride – beat them all and was a point better than the runner-up, seven-time NFR qualifier and 2014 Roundup champion Wade Sundell.
This marks the second time the young Oklahoman has qualified for the Dodge City championship. He played on the biggest stage in the region a year ago when he was riding on his permit – contestants must first earn the right to compete as card-carrying members of ProRodeo through the permit system.
Now Etbauer leads the saddle bronc riding Rookie of the Year standings with more than $40,000 in season earnings.
“Last year I got lucky and made it to the short round and finished fifth,” said Etbauer, the youngest of three children born to Robert and Sue Etbauer. “This is my third year coming to Dodge City, and it’s always tough competition and the top guys in the world. To be able to compete against them is incredible.”
But being around the greatest in the game is nothing new to Etbauer. He grew up around it, and he has had plenty of good bronc riding educators in the game. He’s taken great strides every year and now sits in the top 25 in the world standings. He needs to move up 10 spots to be among the top 15 in order to qualify for this year’s NFR.
“My goal is to win the rookie title,” he said. “I’ve got a way to go to go to make the finals, but I’m going to try to make it. I’m going to work my hardest to get there.”
Etbauer wasn’t the only cowboy in the field thinking about his family. Steer wrestler Tom Lewis of Lehi, Utah, helped his mother celebrate her 66th birthday by winning the Roundup championship.
“She was diagnosed with lung and bladder cancer,” Lewis said. “They say we might have her for eight to nine months, maybe a year, God willing, but you never know for sure.
“I’m a momma’s boy, and I’m here because she wants me to be here. She pushes us, she loves us and she keeps our whole family together. She’s the first lady I call when I’m done. Today’s important for my mom.”
And there’s nobody prouder of Tom Lewis than her.
Dodge City Roundup Rodeo
Dodge City, Kan.
Aug. 2-6
Bareback riding: First round: 1. Tilden Hooper, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Night Fist, $3,149; 2. Tim O’Connell, 86.5, $2,414; 3. Shane O’Connell, 85.5, $1,784; 4. Clayton Biglow, 84.5, $1,155; 5. (tie) Mason Clements and Orin Larsen, 84, $630 each; 7. Wyatt Denny, 83, $420; 8. J.R. Vezain, 81.5, $315. Final round: 1. Clayton Biglow, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Gun Fire, $1,650; 2. Orin Larsen, 86.5, $1,250; 3. (tie) Steven Dent and Tilden Hooper, 86, $750 each; 5. Wyatt Denny, 85, $350; 6. J.R. Vezain, 82.5, $350. Average: 1. Tilden Hooper, 173 points on two rides, $3,149; 2. Clayton Biglow, 172, $2,414; 3. Orin Larsen, 171, $1,784; 4. (tie) Wyatt Denny and Tim O’Connell, 168, $945 each; 6. (tie) Steven Dent and Shane O’Connell, 165, $472; 8. J.R. Vezain, 164, $315.
Steer wrestling: First round: 1. Trever Nelson, 3.6 seconds, $2,886; 2. Riley Duvall, 3.7, $2,509; 3. Clay Mindemann, 3.8, $2,133; 4. (tie) Tyler Pearson and T.J. Hall, 3.9, $1,568 each; 6. (tie) Tom Lewis and Joby Allen, 4.1, $815 each; 8. (tie) Levi Rudd, Cody Charmasson and Ryan Swayze, 4.3, $63 each. Second round: 1. Jon Ragatz, 3.3 seconds, $2,886; 2. Ryle Smith, 3.7, $2,509; 3. Tom Lewis, 3.8, $2,133; 4. (tie) Kyle Whitaker, Walt Arnold and Will Lummus, 4.1, $1,380 each; 7. Tyler Waguespack, 4.2, $627; 8. (tie) Kyle Eike and Josh Peek, 4.3, $125 each. Final round: 1. Tyler Pearson, 4.0 seconds, $1,305; 2. Tom Lewis, 4.3, $1,080; 3. Joby Allen, 4.7, $855; 4. Levi Rudd, 4.8, $630; 5. (tie) Nick Guy and Tyler Waguespack, 5.2, $315 each. Average: 1. Tom Lewis, 12.2 seconds on three runs, $4,328; 2. Tyler Pearson, 12.8, $3,764; 3. Tyler Waguespack, 13.9, $3,199; 4. Joby Allen, 14.3, $2,635; 5. Levi Rudd, 14.5, $2,070; 6. Nick Guy, 15.6, $1,505; 7. Jacob Talley, 14.8, $941; 8. Josh Peek, 15.1, $376.
Team roping: First round: 1. Cody Snow/Wesley Thorp, 4.6 seconds, $2,532 each; 2. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins, 4.7, $2,201; 3. (tie) Marcus Theriot/Cody Doescher, Charly Crawford/Joseph Harrison and Colby Lovell/James Arnold, 5.1, $1,541 each; 6. Clay Tryan/Jade Corkill, 5.2, $881; 7. Nelson Wyatt/Trace Porter, 5.5, $550; 8. Hayes Smith/Justin Davis, 5.6, $220. Second round: 1. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 4.4 seconds, $2,532 each; 2. Paul David Tiereney/Levi Tyan, 4.5, $2,201; 3. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 4.6, $1,871; 4. Coleman Proctor/Billie Jack Saebens, 4.7, $1,541; 5. (tie) Jesse Stipes/Jake Clay and Curry Kirchner/Derrick Jantzen, 5.1, $1,046 each; 7. Billy Bob Brown/Logan Medlin, 5.3, $550; 8. (tie) Colby Lovell/Ty Arnold and Chad Masters/Travis Graves, 5.4, $110 each. Final round: 1. Colby Lovell/Ty Arnold, 5.0 seconds, $877 each; 2. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 5.1, $726; 3. (tie) Marcus Theriot/Cody Doescher and Chad Masters/Travis Graves, 6.9, $449 each; 5. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 8.5, $272; 6. Jake Pancost/David Hinman, 11.7, $151. Average: 1. Colby Lovell/Ty Arnold, 15.5 seconds on three runs, $3,797; 2. Chad Masters/Travis Grves, 18.3, $3,302; 3. Marcus Theriot/Cody Doescher, 18.7, $2,807; 4. Andrew Ward/Reagan Ward, 20.3, $2,311; 5. Luke Brown/Jake Long, 20.7, $1,816; 6. Lane Ivy/Buddy Hawkins, 22.6, $1,321; 7. Jake Pancost/David Hinman, 24.4, $825; 8. Troy Boone/Chase Boekhaus, 26.6, $330.
Saddle bronc riding: First round: 1. Jacobs Crawley, 87 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Rooster, $2,690; 2. Hardy Braden, 86.5, $2,063; 3. Brody Cress, 84, $1,525; 4. Shade Etbauer, 83.5, $986; 5. Dean Wadsworth, 82.5, $628; 6. Cody Wright, 81.5, $448; 7. Wade Sundell, 81, $359; 8. (tie) Dylan Henson, Zeke Thurston and Joey Sonnier III, 79.5, $90 each. Final round: 1. Wade Sundell, 88 points on Harry Vold Rodeo’s Happy Valley, $1,650; 2. Shade Etbauer, 86.5, $1,250; 3. Cody DeMoss, 83, $900; 4. (tie) Zeke Thurston and Jacobs Crawley, 82, $475 each; 6. Cody Wright, 81.5, $250. Average: 1. Shade Etbauer, 170 points on two rides, $2,690; 2. (tie) Wade Sundell and Jacobs Crawley, 169, $1,794; 4. Hardy Braden, 166, $986; 5. (tie) Cody Wright and Brody Cress, 163, $534 each; 7. (tie) Cody DeMoss and Zeke Thurston, 162, $314 each.
Tie-down roping: First round: 1. Riley Pruitt, 8.0 seconds, $2,702; 2. Scott Kormos, 9.1, $2,350; 3. Jerome Schneeberger, 9.6, $1,997; 4. Tuf Cooper, 9.7, $1,645; 5. Timber Moore, 9.8, $1,292; 6. Ty Baker, 9.9, $940; 7. Stran Smith, 10.0, $587; 8. (tie) Bryson Sechrist and Blair Burk, 10.1, $117 each. Second round: 1. Caddo Lewallen, 7.4 seconds, $2,702; 2. Randall Carlisle, 7.9, $2,350; 3. Kelsey Garrison, 8.2, $1,997; 4. (tie) Ryan Jarrett and Lane Livingston, 8.8, $1,469; 6. Paul David Tierney, 8.9, $940; 7. (tie) Cory Solomon and Blane Cox, 9.1, $117 each. Final round: 1. Riley Pruitt, 9.0 seconds, $1,160; 2. Blane Cos, 9.1, $960; 3. Timber Moore, 9.2, $760; 4. Josh Peek, 9.3, $560; 5. Trent Creager, 9.5, $360; 6. Jerome Schneeberger, 10.3, $200. Average: 1. Timber Moore, 28.2 seconds on three runs, $4,053; 2. Blane Cox, 28.8, $3,525; 3. Riley Pruitt, 29.5, $2,996; 4. Josh Peek, 31.1, $2,467; 5. Trent Creager, 31.9, $1,939; 6. Thomas Merritt, 32.7, $1,410; 7. Jerome Schneebergrer, 32.8, $881; 8. J.D. McCuistrion, 33.8, $352.
Barrel racing: First round: 1. Jane Melby, 17.27 seconds, $2,348; 2. (tie) Dona Kay Rule and Christine Laughlin, 17.35, $1,845 each; 4. Emily Miller, 17.42, $1,453; 5. (tie) Lacinda Rose and Laura Kennedy, 17.43, $1,006 each; 7. Sidney Forrest, 17.45, $671; 8. Sydni Blanchard, 17.46, $447; 9. Jacie Etbauer, 17.47, $335; 10. (tie) Elizabeth Broussard and Bonnie Baughman, 17.50, $112 each. Second round: 1. Michelle Darling, 17.16 seconds, $2,348; 2. Jean Winters, 17.17, $2,012; 3. Kelly Bruner, 17.25, $1,667; 4. Ivy Hurst, 17.27, $1,453; 5. Danielle Collier, 17.33, $1,118; 6. Sydni Blanchard, 17.38, $894; 7. (tie) Sandy McElreath and Sidney Forrest, 17.46, $559 each; 9. (tie) Holly Wright and Hollie Etbauer, 17.48, $280 each. Final round: 1. Sindey Forrest, 17.41 seconds, $1,739; 2. Laura Lambert, 17.45, $1,304; 3. Paige Wiseman, 17.51, $870; 4. Lacinda Rose, 17.54, $435. Average: 1. Sidney Forrest, 52.32 seconds on three runs, $3,522; 2. Lacinda Rose, 52.54, $3,019; 3. Christine Laughlin, 52.61, $2,516; 4. (tie) Laura Lambert, Jean Winters and Paige Wiseman, 52.63, $1,733 each; 7. Sandy McElreath, 52.832, $1,006; 8. Bonnie Baughman, 52.99, $671; 9. Danielle Collier, 54.72, $503; 10. Ivy Hurst, 57.11, $335.
Steer roping: First round: 1. J.P. Wickett, 10.9 seconds, $1,842; 2. Jarrett Blessing, 11.1, $1,524; 3. Tony Reina, 11.2, $1,207; 4. (tie) Rocky Patterson and John Bland, 11.5, $730 each; 6. Reo Lohse, 11.8, $318. Second round: 1. Chet Herren, 9.7 seconds, $1,842; 2. (tie) Trevor Brazile, Cody Scheck and Travis Mills, 10.6, $1,207 each; 5. Scott Snedecor, 10.7, $572; 6. Cody Lee, 11.0, $318. Third round: 1. Trevor Brazile, 10.0, $1,842; 2. Jeff Whellis, 10.6, $1,524; 3. (tie) Bryce Davis and Vin Fisher Jr., 11.0, $1,048 each; 5. (tie) JoJo LeMond and Thomas Smith, 12.1, $445 each. Average: 1. Vin Fisher Jr., 26.7 seconds on three runs, $2,762; 2. Cody Scheck, 40.4, $2,286; 3. Kim Ziegelgruber, 42.1, $1,810; 4. Will Gasperson, 44.9, $1,334; 5. Corey Ross, 45.5, $857; 6. Travis Mills, 46.0, $476.
Bull riding: First round: 1. (tie) Tyler Hessman, on 4L and Diamond S Rodeo’s Foolish Dreams, on Jeston Mead, on 4L and Diamond S Rodeo’s Living, 87 points, $2,688 each; 3. Shane Proctor, 85.5, $1,724; 3. (tie) Joseph McConnel and Ednei Caminhas, 84.5, $913 each; 6. Guthrie Murray, 84, $507; 7. (tie) Sage Kimzey and Koby Radley, $355 each. Final round: 1. Koby Radley, 84 points on Frontier Rodeo’s Highway man, $2,050; 2. Shane Proctor, 83, $1,650; 3. Ednei Caminhas, 71.5, $1,300. Average: 1. Shane Proctor, 168.5 points on two rides, $3,043; 2. Koby Radley, 166.5, $2,333; 3. Ednei Caminhas, 156, $1,724; 4. (tie) Tyler Hessman and Jeston Mead, 87 points on one ride, $913 each; 6. Joseph McConnel, 84.5, $507; 7. Guthrie Murray, 84, $406; 8. Sage Kimzey, 82.5, $304.